Safety apparatus for aviators.



LE ROY J. WILKINSON.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR AVIA-TORS\ APPLICATION FILED 05c. a0. 1918.

1 298,6 1 5. Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- LE ROY J. WILKINSON.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR AVIATO'RS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30 l9l8. 1,298,615. Patented Mar. 25,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1E STAES ATEN oFFioE.

LE ROY JOHN WILKINSON, OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR nvm rons.

specification.

. My present invention pertains to means for contributing to the safety of aviators; and it consists .in the peculiar and advantageous apparatus, hereinafter described and claimed, whereby the aviator is securely held in the aeroplane, irrespective of the position of the latter, and yet, when occasion demands, the aviator is enabled to instantaneously release himself from the machine.

In the acompanying drawings,- hereby made a part hereof:

Figure 1 is a. general view, illustrative of the practical application of my novel apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the upper harness corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

.As best shown in Fig. 2, the upper. harness member of my apparatus is made up of a strap 1 adapted to be fastened through the medium of a buckle 2 about the chest of the aviator, and shoulder straps 3 permanently connected to the rear portion of the chest strap and detachably connected with the forward portion thereof through the medium of eyes 4 and snap-hooks 5. At about the middle of its back the strap 1 is provided with a sna -hook 5, for an important purpose hereina ter set forth.

In Fig. 3 is shown the lower harness member of theapparatus, and by reference to said figure said member will be understood as comprising a waist-strap 6, having a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

Application filed December 30, 1918. Serial No. 268,782.

buckle 7, and also having a snap-hook 7 at its back, and leg-receiving straps 8, suitably connected at their ends wlth the waist-strap and preferably in the adjustable manner illustrated.

The aeroplane portion of my novel apparatus is best shownin Figs. 4: to 7, and is made up of an upright 9, of channel form in cross section, suitably fixed in the aeroplane and having spaced apertures 10 in its transverse wall, spaced sheaves 11 arranged intermediate the upper and lower apertures 10 and movable in vertical slots 12, provided in the transverse wall of upright 9, a lever 12 mounted in the aeroplane Within convenient reach of the aviator, locking plates 13, slid-- able vertically back of the upright 9, cables 14 connecting the said plates 13 and the lever 12 and passed around the sheaves 1-1, retractile springs 15 adapted to normally hold the plates 13 yieldinglyin the positions illustrated, and forwardly extending fasteners 16 which extend through the apertures 10 in upright 9 and are provided at their forward ends with eyes 17 for the engagement of the snap-hooks 5 and 7* on the harness-members. The fasteners 16 are preferably in the form of pins, provided at their rear ends with heads 18. The retaining lates 13 are slotted longitudinally at 19 an are held to the back of the upright 9 by headed pins 20.

It will also be noticed that each plate 13 is provided with an aperture 21 ample for the passage of the adjacent fastener heads 18,

and that said aperture merges into a comparatively narrow longitudinal slot 22 of a width to snugly receive the shank of the adjacent fastener 16. The retractile springs 15 are interposedbetween and connected to the outer ends of the plates 13 and the back of' the upright 9.

By virtue of the snap-hooks 5 and 7 being enlarged, the fasteners 16 may be left in the apparatus while -the aviator in harness is out of the aeroplane.

At 7* is a rack or keeper complementary to the lever 12 to hold the same in two positionsc'. 6., when the fasteners 16 are rigidl locked, and when said fasteners are release This precludes slipping of the cable 011 the sheaves.

In the practical use of my novel apparatus the plates 13 are normally and strongly held by the springs 15 in the positions clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so as to preclude the casual release of the fasteners 16, and when the aviator is equipped wlth the upper and lower harness members and is seated in the aeroplane with the snap hooks 5 and 7* connected with the fasteners 16, it will be apparent that, no matter What position theaeroplane assumes, the aviator will be securely held against displacement from the machine. When, however, something happens that renders it desirable for the aviator to quickly release himself from the sanfe, he is enabled to expeditiously accomplish such purpose by manipulating the lever It will also be apparent from the fore-' going that by. manipulating the plates 13 and properly positioning the fasteners 16 in engagement with the upright 9 and the plates 13, the machine portion of the apparatus may be quickly and easily set for use.

From the foregoing description and the drawings, it will be manifest that my novel apparatus, while eflicient and reliable for the purpose stated, is simple and inexpensive in construction and is susceptible of" being quickly and easily installed in an aeroplane.

When deemed expedient, certain elements of the aeroplane portion of my novel apparatus might be made of aluminum or other material compatible with the light character of the aeroplane, but this is not of the essence of my invention, and,therefor'e, the different elements may be made of any suitable material without affecting my claimed invention.

I would also have it understood that the harness to be worn by the aviator\ ma-y,

without involving departure'from the scope of my claimed invention, be of any suitable character that 111 permit of the aviator beingconnected with the fasteners 16 of the machine portion of the apparatus.

The aeroplane portion of my novel apparatus is preferably of the specific constructionshown and described, but I do not des1re to be understood as confining myself to said specific construction, inasmuch as in the future practice of the invention various changes in the form and arrangement of the parts may be made without involving departure from the scope of my appended claims. I

Iflavmg described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

, .1. In a safety apparatus for aviators, the COmblIlLtlOIl of an upright channel bar fixed and eyes at their forward ends; said eyes for the engagement of hooks with which an aviator is to be equipped, slidable retaining plates, held to the back of the upright bar and having apertures'for the passage of the fastener heads and also having in-.

Wardly extending slots in communication 1 with said apertures and adapted to snugly receive the shanks of the fasteners,

tions of said plates and the upright bar to normally hold the fastener heads in engagement with the plates, a handle carried by the aeroplane, and cables connected with the inner portions of the retaining plates a d passed around the sheaves and connect ed with said handle.

2. In a safety apparatus combination of-a bar adapted to be secured in an aeroplane and having an aperture, a fastener havingan enlargement adapted to move through said aperture; said fastener being constructed and arranged for connection with a'harness to be worn by an aviator, a retaining plate movableon the bar and having an aperture adapted on movement of the plate to be registered With the aperture in-the bar and also having a slot in communication with said aperture and adapted to normally prevent the passage of the enlargement on tlre fastener, a retractile spring interposed between the bar and the plate to yieldingly hold the slot of the plate in engagement with the fastener, a cable for pulling the plate against the action of said spring, and a sheave Ocarried by the bar and around which the cable is passed. i

3. In a safety apparatus for aviators, the combination of a support having an aperture, a fastener having an enlargement a movable retainer, constructed and arranged in one position, to hold the enlargement of the fastener and in another retractilesprings interposed between the outer porfor aviators, the

posltion to release the fastener and permit of the disconnection of'the same fromthe bar, a spring for yieldingly holding the retainer in the first-named position, a manually actuatable means for moving the retainer against the "action of the spring-in its second-named position.

4. In a safety apparatus for aviators, harness adapted to be worn by an aviator and equipped with a snap-hook, in combination with a bar adapted to be secured in an aeroplane and having an aperture, a fastener movable through said aperture and having an eye for the connection of the snap-hook and also h:Wing an enlargement, a springheld-retaining plate having an aperture for the passage of the enlargement on the fastener, and a contracted opening in engagement with said aperture for preventing the passage of said enlargement, and manually operated means for moving said plate against the action of the spring.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

LE ROY JOHN WILKINSON. 

